23 The Woman Bathed in Blood

On a night shrouded in darkness and wind, the perfect setting for murder and arson! Heaven only knows why Blade insists on working at night against shut-in vampires—creatures who can’t venture out during the day. Standing before a vast, ancient structure, Jos finally, after much persuasion, reluctantly set down the three hundred pounds of C4 Blade had somehow procured. And so, their mission began.

Resorting to bombs at the slightest provocation—how did this guy ever get into the Avengers?

“In that room is... well, you just need to know it’s the leader of the vampires. I’ll take care of him. Your job is to kill as many of the lesser vampires as possible,” Blade clarified once more before drawing his silver longsword from behind his back—yes, a proper silver blade—kicking open the door, and charging inside.

He genuinely couldn’t bear another moment with Jos; every second in Jos’s company challenged Blade’s worldview. By comparison, even vampires seemed adorable.

Once Blade vanished, Jos shrugged and followed his lead, slipping through the gaping doorway. Honestly, Jos would have preferred to resolve a roomful of enemies with a well-placed bomb from afar. And as for collateral damage—wasn’t the Marvel world plagued by global crises every year? Would blowing up a single building really be an issue?

But whether hero or antihero, none seemed inclined to such methods, so Jos adapted to local customs and joined Blade in close combat with the vampires.

No particular task had been assigned to him by the system this time, but Jos had already discovered that surviving battles or dangerous situations increased the source of his recklessness, so he wasn’t worried about missing out.

As Blade advanced, the vampires hiding in the depths of the grand old mansion surged forth like a tide.

“What’s going on?! Who are you?!” demanded a vampire, a middle-aged man with an imposing presence, glaring furiously at Jos.

Bang!

His reply was a single silver bullet, piercing the vampire’s skull and ending his existence in an instant.

For these pitiable creatures—incapable of leaving any mark on the Marvel world—Jos had neither the patience nor the inclination to waste words.

When they realized Jos’s weapons were silver, the vampires scattered, grabbing firearms to retaliate from a distance.

“Tsk tsk, it figures—creatures you can kill with silverware wielded by ordinary people. You embarrass vampires everywhere; you might as well resign from the club.”

He’d borrowed only a few bullets from Blade, and after dispatching three vampires, his supply was exhausted. Not that it bothered him; Jos was never adept with guns. He’d simply decided not to let them go to waste.

In close quarters, firearms were a foolish choice; if you missed, the ricocheting bullets could end up anywhere—fate alone decided their landing spot.

“He’s out of ammo! Get him!!”

Someone shouted, and the vampires lunged toward Jos’s hiding spot, claws extended. Even if bullets weren’t fatal, none enjoyed being shot, so they instinctively opted for close combat.

“You’re not supernatural beings, just mere humans daring to attack us! I’ll tear you to pieces and drain every drop of your blood!”

Vampires bared their fangs, fingers morphing into claws, looking nothing like the elegant, noble creatures of legend—just a pack of bloodthirsty beasts.

“So tell me, who gave you this confidence? Was it a pop singer?”

In midair, Jos’s hand seized the head of the foremost vampire, a flash of silver from his dagger plunging deep into its brain.

The vampire dissolved into ash in his grasp. Jos, now a shadow among shadows, dove straight into the heart of the vampire mob.

Their combat prowess barely rivaled half a Hawkeye, while Jos, clad in his desperate battle suit, boasted at least three Hawkeyes’ worth of strength. Slaughtering these vampires was as effortless as slicing melons.

Daggers, even without skill, were hard to mishandle. With overwhelming speed and strength, Jos cleared the entire floor of vampires in minutes, without a scratch.

“Tsk tsk, no wonder Blade movies will never be rebooted. With power levels like these, survival in Marvel is truly a struggle.”

Surveying the floor strewn with vampire ash, Jos shrugged and made his way upstairs. Blade would be busy soloing the boss for a while yet, and with the vampires alarmed, Jos would take the opportunity to kill as many as possible.

A soft, chilling laughter echoed from a nearby room as Jos reached the second floor.

In this pitch-black mansion crawling with vampires, the melodious voice was anything but seductive—only fear crept in its wake.

Jos, unfazed, simply kicked open the door and charged in.

But his steps faltered at the scene inside: not a snarling vampire, but a stunning, naked woman bathing.

Her skin was alabaster, her eyes crystal blue, her beauty accentuated by two generous curves. Every gesture exuded irresistible allure; she lounged in a bathtub, unabashed, studying Jos with curiosity.

In any Japanese film, this would be a generous fan-service moment—if only she weren’t soaking in a tub full of blood.

“Hmm? A vampire hunter, are you?” The woman seemed fully aware of the commotion downstairs, yet showed no hint of fear upon seeing Jos.

Clearly, she either held a high rank among vampires or possessed extraordinary power, explaining her lack of concern.

With a splash, she rose from the blood, crimson droplets clinging to her pale skin, making her appear even more enticing.

“Care to play, darling vampire hunter?” She smiled seductively, beckoning him with a finger.

“Sure! Let’s go! Show me your best smile, sweetheart!”

Hell, who’s ever shied away from losing their dignity?